Based on the series of novels created by Donald E. Westlake, Parker (Jason Statham) is a professional thief who lives by a personal code of ethics: Don’t steal from people who can’t afford it and don’t hurt people who don’t deserve it. But on his latest heist, his crew double crosses him, steals his stash, and leaves him for dead.

Determined to make sure they regret it, Parker tracks them to PalmBeach, playground of the rich and famous, where the crew is planning their biggest heist ever. Donning the disguise of a rich Texan, Parker takes on an unlikely partner, Leslie (Jennifer Lopez), a savvy insider, who’s short on cash, but big on looks, smarts and ambition. Together, they devise a plan to hijack the score, take everyone down and get away clean.

If this is a good actioner and R-rated, I'm in. I like Statham and occasionally one of his small/moderate budgeted actioners turns out to be entertaining.

I'd like to see him as the star (not part of an ensemble piece, ala Expendables) in a hard-R action film with a more talented writer and director involved, though.

Whoa, Taylor Hackford is a pretty talented director - Against All Odds was one of the best neo-noirs I've ever seen, Ray, although a pretty standard biopic, was one of the most emotional and dramatic films of 2004 and An Officer and a Gentleman, although cliched and pretty uneven in places, is one of the most iconic and truly all-American films ever released. He's even president of the Directors Guild of America at the moment. He's one of the most experienced directors around, so I can't imagine a better person to helm a film right now.

Regardless, this film might be alright if it's played tongue-in-cheek.

Whoa, Taylor Hackford is a pretty talented director - Against All Odds was one of the best neo-noirs I've ever seen, Ray, although a pretty standard biopic, was one of the most emotional and dramatic films of 2004 and An Officer and a Gentleman, although cliched and pretty uneven in places, is one of the most iconic and truly all-American films ever released. He's even president of the Directors Guild of America at the moment. He's one of the most experienced directors around, so I can't imagine a better person to helm a film right now.

Regardless, this film might be alright if it's played tongue-in-cheek.

*shrugs* All that proves is that a decade ago he could make good dramas. His last movie was a stinker and the only action film he made also sucked. There are dozens and dozens of better choices than this guy.

*shrugs* All that proves is that a decade ago he could make good dramas. His last movie was a stinker and the only action film he made also sucked. There are dozens and dozens of better choices than this guy.

I agree that there are better directors to handle action, and that he might not be the right director for this particular project, but Hackford should come back into his own sometime soon with another film - maybe this might be his one? If not, it'll join the ever-growing pile of Statham movies that are terrible. I'm just saying that Hackford has the experience and film knowledge to at least make a decent and passable film.

Finally, a Parker movie where the character's name isn't arbitrarily changed (the actual reason is that Westlake didn't want a movie being made unless it was going to be a series). Hopefully they do a few of the novels, if the movies are half as good the books, this could be a Statham franchise better than Transporter, Crank or Expendables.

The late Donald E. Westlake was my favorite author, and his Parker series is great. Yes, I can buy Statham as Parker. Wish it was another actress in this, though.

Statham will be right at home as Parker. I thought Mel Gibson did a great job in Payback, but this looks great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Holly

Finally, a Parker movie where the character's name isn't arbitrarily changed (the actual reason is that Westlake didn't want a movie being made unless it was going to be a series). Hopefully they do a few of the novels, if the movies are half as good the books, this could be a Statham franchise better than Transporter, Crank or Expendables.